Set in Central Asia in a rural town near the Caspian Sea during the 19th century, the story revolves around a young woman, Amir, who arrives from a distant village across the mountains to marry Karluk, a boy eight years her junior. The story unfolds among details of everyday family and community life. However, the peaceful atmosphere is disturbed when Amir's family demands to take her back to their village.

Note: Nominated for the 4th and 6th Manga Taisho. Won the 7th annual Manga Taishou Award in 2014 and the intergénérations prize at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2012.

that's why I love Seinens. the jokes, even though you usually don't burst out in laughter like in gag mangas, make you harbor a big wide grin, you laugh with your heart and you notice quite happily how well-made the story is told. I love this series, I'm glad I bought the first volume to try it out =)

This one sure is amazing. I looked against starting this one... but it's actually breathtaking. The art is so well-done, some pages haven't got a single word, yet your mind tells the whole story just by looking at them. I really like how the culture is explained, the way everyday life in that tribe is shown. I didn't see too much romance... but I couldn't care less to be honest. This is a must read.

genius , it feels like this guy really made something an humanly (for a mangaka since they work is really like fulltime...) , is not the best manga i've read but well but its one of the best , thats clear if anyone who can rate this manga less than 10 is not worth putting attention, no one can draw and put so much dedication on everything its like millions of hours of research and i am glad that i read this,if you are looking for something good, this will get you amazed in the whole sence of the word ,the plot is great, really a masterpiece, I know my english is really bad but that doesn't make me stupid ok, btw this will teach alot about something most people dont seem to understand which is understanding each other, and another thing is that i would love if somebody could tell me where i can research this kind of tribe.

The art is detailed on every level. The plot is intriguing. The characters interaction is so well done. The age gap yet loving relationship between the female lead and her husband is one of the most interesting themes of the manga.

I dunno what made me bump into this series but I'm glad it did. The artwork as many others have said is simply gorgeous, the details on the womens' intricate clothing and the people's faces. Amira has some of the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen in a manga character. Though they're not real you can somehow see the soul behind them. The whole family that Karluk and Amira are part of are so endearing. The romance between the two main characters is pure and adorable. And as for Mr Smith and the other girl I really do hope they get together in the end. Maybe live as extended family of Karluk's tribe.

A truly wonderful experience to read this manga and I do hope more will come.

Being a Turk myself, this whole manga felt something that came out of an Anatolian nomadic tribe documentary. The motifs on the carpets, the jewelry, the clothes, you can find those exact ones still widely used throughout the region in rural areas. The attention to details is through and through in both drawings and how many Turkic people still live in Middle Asia steppes. It's a warm story about everyday life, may be compared to Vinland Saga's current farm arc if someone needs an example.

My sincere respects to Kaoru Mori for spending this much effort to prepare a correct portrayal of those people of that time. It's beautiful and it's true. It's also an ultra rare opportunity to be introduced to this rich, mostly unknown culture.

As for the age difference, I think people are bothered only because the male is still a minor by today's norms. People married and still do in certain regions of the world as early as 14-15, we still have folk songs from old times about such couples and how it was considered purely normal. If someone could take care of their living and fulfill roles in a family, they were eligible for marriage. It's pretty much a cultural and historical difference between the old times and today, I think people should be able to accept that much when reading about a foreign land 150 years ago.

As for deeming rabbit hunting cruel.. Well, I guess they didn't have supermarkets back then which had meat chopped and clean so you can dump the cruelty on someone else with a credit card.

I was a little hesitant at first, and always put it off. It's true that the art is stunning and the author has really done her research, but it was the story that I liked. Otoyomegatari has a very simple, slice of life story, simple romances, no wangst. It makes for a very relaxing read, and the characters really grow on you. If you liked stories like Dear Mine, you would like this.

Wow, ancient huh?. This is around the same time frame when Emma and Shirley lived. If the researcher guy ever goes home in one piece, he'll probably meet one of those two characters. And some people don't get that 13/15 is like an independent adult for the people with that, or similar, customs(then and now). Would you be as surprised, if he was 18 and she was 26? I am rather thankful, to the author, for not glorifying(too much) the harsh living conditions and environment of that time. Plus she added some things for cultural contrast(the glasses, single shot rifle etc) and chose an interesting time for the backdrop, just like she did with "Emma".

Anyway. This is NOT a one person super hero action kind of manga. It has some romance and adventure, but it's mostly a calm shoujo manga with occasional exciting situations.

Very beautiful, well-drawn with high attention to detail, which is clear from the very first breathtaking panel in the intricate patterns of textiles, ornaments, and clothing. Some panels, can be works of art on their own.

True to its "slice of life" and "historical" label, Otoyome-gatari is basically about the day-to-day lives of these people in a village of some ancient middle-eastern territory. I'm not well-versed in the history of that time, but as far as I can tell, it's not based on a major historical conflict. I mean, the historical aspect doesn't add anything interesting besides the clothing, textile, architecture, etc. nothing to the plot. They're hunting rabbits and that's the plot of an entire chapter. And nothing else happens. It's as interesting as buying a whopper from Burger King. And there's a spot where there's some conflict, but you're just kind of like "are you serious?" and it feels really cardboard-y.

I was hoping for character and story, but it's lacking. It's dull. The main female character is portrayed as a one-dimensional, perfect, slightly vapid, being. The romance is between a 20 year old woman and a 12 year old boy who hasn't even gone through puberty, which I didn't even realize until like a couple chapters in, because she alternates between acting like she's 12 herself or his mother. It's just so boring. I read up to Ch.10, then got too bored to continue.

It's a good series to appreciate the art, or learn how to draw, and maybe get a sense for that place and time period, but not for entertainment. Should take a look, but don't expect anything out of the story. Once you read the first chapter or so, you've read the whole thing.

The art is simply beautiful. A real talent. The story is unique in that it gives us a glimpse into the richness of a different culture. The dialogue and narration are also well done (great job on the translating!). Nice transitions from panel to panel. I believe the backdrop occurs during the Crimean War in the 1850s, as the last chapter I read mentioned conflict between the British and the Russians. The series has only just gotten started, but I'm really interested in seeing where its going.

If you are a shonen junkie and all you know are high action series like Bleach or Dragon Ball with its numerous power-ups then this series is probably not for you. I like some Shonen too, but this is not one of those series. If you don't mind a slower pace and a historical setting then definitely give this series a try.